Marine super-fan clocks up the miles to support stadium development

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Marine super-fan Paul Sutherland is to run an amazing 10 marathons in a month to help the club raise funds for their ground appeal. Paul, 49, a rail strategy manager now based in London, first watched Marine at the age of 10 at the famous FA Cup win against Football League Barnsley at College Road in 1976. He attended Manor High School in Crosby.

Paul has run 188 marathons so far (184 in the last three and a half years) and has competed in Holland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as in many locations throughout the UK. He especially takes on the most unusual and grueling of marathons.

Paul’s proudest run was completing 10 marathons in 10 days round the tough hilly Windermere Road marathon course in May 2015 for Brathay kids charity, finishing fourth and averaging 3:54, but more importantly raising £6,000 for the children’s charity.

His marathon ambitions are to run 100 in under 4 hours by May; run 100 miles in under 24 hours in 2016 and for a change to cycle 262 miles around Windermere later in the year.

Marine super fan Paul Sutherland will be clocking up the miles to raise money for Marine's ground development

The 10 Marine Ground Appeal marathons to be run by Paul start on March 5 in Telford and finishes on April 2 in Friburg, Germany and are scheduled as follows:-

1-March 5-Ground Hog running track marathon (105 laps), Telford.

2-March 6-Cambridge University Trail Marathon

3-March 12-Leeds to Liverpool Canal Marathon from Leeds - day 1

4-March 13-Leeds to Liverpool Canal Marathon from Leeds - day 2

5-March 15-Weak at the Knees Marathon, Milton Keynes - day 2

6-March 18-Weak at the Knees Marathon, Milton Keynes - day 5

7-March 20-Pick and Mix Cross country trial marathon, Northants

8-March 26-Round the Reservoir, Northampton, day 1

9-March 27-Round the Reservoir, Northampton - day 2

10-April 2-Friburg, Black Forest,Germany

Marathon runner and Marine fan Paul Sutherland said: “I shall wear my Marine shirt with pride as I take on these real challenges for my favourite football club that I have supported since I was a boy. The sequencing and nature of this marathon schedule is exceptionally tough; it will be a real test for me and at the moment my body hurts from the WWII bunker marathon I ran in Hamburg recently. However, I have set my sights on completing that 10th run in Germany on April 2 for Marine and I hope that I can provide a level of sponsorship that will help the club to complete their current ground development phase.

“From start to finish I shall be keeping a blog of events on Facebook of my ups and downs covering each one of the marathons from Telford to Germany. I hope that my experiences will inspire others to do something or to get involved in some way to help other charitable and good causes.”

Marine Chairman Paul Leary said: “Paul’s efforts here are almost super human and it makes my walk to Skelmersdale at Christmas seem like a stroll in the park. Without doubt the schedule that he has put together is fully deserved of sponsorship backing from as many people as possible and I cannot thank Paul enough for what he is undertaking for Marine Football Club. On his return to Marine in April he will receive the accolades that he thoroughly deserves.”

Marine Football Club will be setting up a Just Giving page for anyone that would like to support Paul Sutherland in his marathon efforts. Donations can also be made to Secretary Richard Cross at 74 Elvington Road, Hightown, Liverpool L38 9AN making cheques payable to Marine FC. Alternatively, donations can be made on line by accessing www.groundappeal.co.uk and clicking on donate.”